Thursday 3 May 2012

Csárdás (or Czardas), by Vittorio Monti



From Wikipedia:

Csárdás (or Czardas) is perhaps the most famous composition of Vittorio Monti. A rhapsodical concert piece written in 1904, it is a well-known folk piece based on a Hungarian csárdás. It was originally composed for violin, mandolin or piano. Nowadays, it is usually played on the violin, but can also be played as a piano solo, saxophone solo, on the accordion, as an orchestral arrangement, as a Tuba solo, or on glass bottles. The duration of the piece is about four and a half minutes.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Symphonie Espagnole Opus 21 (5), by Edouard Lalo



From Wikipedia:


The Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21, is a work for violin and orchestra by Édouard Lalo.

The work was written in 1874 for violinist Pablo de Sarasate, and premiered in Paris in February 1875.

Although called a "Spanish Symphony" (see also Sinfonia concertante), it is considered a violin concerto by musicians today. The piece has Spanish motifs throughout, and launched a period when Spanish-themed music came into vogue. (Georges Bizet's opera Carmen premiered a month after the Symphonie espagnole.)

The Symphonie espagnole is one of Lalo's two most often played works, the other being his Cello Concerto. His "official" Violin Concerto in F, and his Symphony in G minor, written thirteen years later, are neither performed nor recorded as often.